Charges filed in death of elderly motorcyclist

ST. PAUL, Minn. A 26-year-old Vadnais Heights woman is charged with criminal vehicular homicide in connection with a collision that killed an elderly motorcyclist.

Ramsey County prosecutors say Autumn Brenae Mason struck the man at the intersection of Prosperity and Ivy Avenues the morning of September 13.

Officers were called to the scene shortly before 8 a.m. that day and found 92-year-old Roy Kromschroeder suffering from serious injuries. Witnesses told them the driver of a 2000 Dodge Durango had accelerated rapidly and struck the victim's motorcycle in the middle of the intersection so hard that it knocked his helmet off. They say the female driver got out, walked over to check on Kromschroeder as he lay on the ground, then climbed back in the SUV and drove off.

Officers working the scene found the truck's license plate on the ground, and traced it to the residence of Autumn Mason. When she came out of the house to get in the Durango she was taken into custody.

When questioned, police say Mason claimed that she stopped at the four way stop but did not see the victim's motorcycle, likely due to a reflection from the sun. She claimed she blacked out, and did not remember what happened.